Review Article: Production of Biofuel from Aegyptiaca (Lalob) Balanitis Oil Seeds

Biofuels are intended to replace the fuel from petroleum. They are a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels because they are renewable and less toxic to the environment. This work aims to contribute to sustainable development by offering a renewable energy source that addresses the pressing energy issues of the day, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the preservation of non-renewable fossil resources. Biofuel is produced by the transesterification of triglycerides present in Aegyptiaca (Lalob) oil, by displacing glycerine with a low- molar-mass alcohol. The resulting ester mixture exhibits physicochemical properties similar to those of petroleum fuels. This study reviews the synthetic paths that lead to biofuel by means of the catalytic transesterification of Aegyptiaca (Lalob) oil. Although methyl esters are currently the only ones produced at an industrial scale, the use of ethanol, which can also be obtained from renewable resources, has been considered, as it would generate a cleaner and more biocompatible fuel.